Dismissed is a thought-provoking mockumentary that explores the blurred boundaries between truth and fabrication, responsibility and corporate power. Set in the aftermath of a fire at a Romanian tech company, the film follows a veteran independent journalist as he investigates a case prematurely dismissed by the authorities. Through interviews and fragmented testimonies, the figure of Eremia Ţofan—an employee whose life and ideals stood in stark contrast to the company’s culture—gradually takes shape. Though absent on screen, Eremia becomes the central presence around which questions of ethics, whistleblowing, censorship, and the promises and perils of artificial intelligence revolve. Rather than offering clear answers, the film encourages the audience to reflect on issues of transparency, justice, the corrosive power of greed and the cost of speaking out within systems that favour silence. Combining the plausibility of documentary form with the tension of investigative cinema, Dismissed is both a timely exploration of AI’s societal implications and a universal story about truth, memory and accountability.

Awards: Transylvania IFF 2024 (Best Romanian Feature Film)